Floor waxing device



N O D R O G i FLOOR WAXING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 2, 1946 Dm. E@ w49 J. GoRDoN FLOOR WAXING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1946 jzyzes Gordon Patented Dec. 20, 1949 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a iloor waxing device more particularly for waxing and polishing floors and the like in domestic establishments for example.

The invention aims to provide, among other objects, a relatively light-weight portable device for this purpose which may -be manually operated ywithout the need for any other power means and in which the application of the wax to the floor may be optionally controlled by the operator while the device is in motion and with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator, while simultaneously, the device continues to polish the oor to which the wax is continuously or successively applied as desired.

The machine of the present invention provides a remarkably simple and inexpensive device `for this purpose, which may be I produced in quantities at relatively low cost and which may be handled by the householder in much the same Iway las the old-fashioned carpet sweeper.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following descripting, taken together with the accompanying drawings, of an illustrative device embodying the present invention, and in which drawings- Figure l is a plan view with parts broken away for purposes of description;

Figure 2 is a somewhat side elevational view but shown principally in section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a detailed view showing one of the bearings for journalling the shaft of the applicator brush and being a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown in the drawings, the device in general comprises a main frame IB, an auxiliary frame I I, and an operating handle I2. The main frame I is mobile as by being carried in this instance by two pairs of wheels, one ypair being indicated by the numerals I3 and I4, and the other 'pair by the numerals I5 and I6. The front pair of wheels I3 and Ill mount the front axle I'I, which is journalled, prefer-ably by ball bearings as at I 8, in the side walls I9 of the main frame. Similarly, the rear pair of wheels I 5 and I6 mount the rear ,axle 23, which is journalled as by @ball bearings 2l also in the main frame side walls I9.

Forward of the front pair of wheels I3 and I 4,

the main frame carries 'a polishing roller 22 which is faced as at 23 with a soft material such as felt, and which is adapted at all times to contact the oor such `as 24 upon which the device may be operating. The polishing roller 22 is carried on an axle 25, `which is journalled in a cylindrical bearing block 26 at each end of the axle, las by a ball bearing 2l. Each cylindrical block 2S is rigid with a bearing stem 28 which extends upwardly and threadedly through a knurled thumb nut 29 which is rotatable above the top wall 3l of the frame I0. The bearing stem 28 passes freely through a grommet 32 fixed in an opening 3l) in the main wall 3 I. The grommet is secured on the under face of the wall 3l 'at 33. Thus, since the bearing stem 28 is threaded as at 34 to mate with corresponding lthreads 35 in the bore of the nut 29, rotation of the nut lwill raise or lower the axle 25 with respect to the frame I0. A conical coil spring 36, through which the bearing stem 28 passes, bears at its upper larger end against the under face of the frame wall 3| and at its lower smaller end against the cylindrical bearing block 25 and resiliently retains the axle 25 in vertically elongated slots 3l in the frame side walls I9. Thus is provided a floating resilient suspension for the polishing roller. This resilient arrangement accommodates irregularities in vthe floor 24, such as the edge of linoleum, or a threshold, and `permits the polishing roller 22 to rise in that case with respect to the frame Ill without the entire device being raised. The thumb nut 25 permits the polishing roller to be lowered to accommodate for wear therein, the spring 36 following the axle downwardly and main-taining a downward pressure on the axle, and this pressure is then adlustable.

A spur gear 38 on the inner face of the front wheel I4 meshes with another spur gear` 39 on the @axle 25 to rotate the polishing roller 22 at all times when [the device is in motion. The gear 38 is larger than the gear 39 so that the polishing roller` -will rotate faster than the wheels I3 and I4, and in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrows A for the wheel and B for the polishing roller.

The auxiliary frame I I is pivoted as by bracket extensions 40 thereof on the iront main frame axle Il, for upward and downward movements with respect to the main frame under the influence of the ioperating handle l2 as desired by .the operator and for the purpose next described.

The auxiliary frame Il carries a rotary applicater brush el. The drum e2 which is carried on an axle d3 of the brush is journalled at each end in a cylindrical bearing block it which is rigid with a bearing stem 115 which passes freely through a grommet lli in the upper wall Ila of the auxiliary fname. 45 is threaded as at il to pass threadedly through the knurled thumb nut d8 on the upper Iside oi the frame wall llo. The coil spring 4S, through which the `bearing stern passes, presses at its upper end against the under face of the frame wall face lia and at its lower end against the cylindrical bearing block lill. Since the outer ends of the axle i3 pass vthrough vertically elongated slots 5d in thte auxiliary frame sidewalls 5I, the axle i3 may move limitedly and resiliently t upward or downward ywith respect to the auxiliary frame to accommodate for irregularities in the oor 2Q, similarly to the polishing roller 22, when the rotary applicator brush is caused to "engage the floor as next described.

The rear wheel iii carries a spur g aref/ upon. its inner face which meshes with another smaller` spur gear 53 fixed on the axle 43 oi the rotary applicator brush when the auxiliary frame is lowered from the position shown in full lines in Figure 2 to a position shown in dotted lines, in Figure 2 as at 54. Thus at the latter time, the applicator-brush 4i is caused to rotate at a speed faster than the rotation of the wheels HS. 'l5 and it, and in the opposite direction as indicated bythe arrows A for the wheel and B for the rotary brush.

The rotary applicator brush di is adapted to contact a'cake of a polishing material such as solidified wax 55 which is received in a compartment 5t formed inthe hollow uonerpart '5l of the vauxiliary frame li. A door' 53 hinged as at 59 on the upper side of the arxiliarv frame provides access to the compartment 5e. the knob `60 being provided for manipulation of the door or cover plate 58. The compartment 55 is onen at the lower end so that it communicates with vthe brush si, and thus the wax cake y55 rests in part by gravity on and in contact with the bristles of thebrush ii at all times both kwhen the 'i brush is stationary in elevated position as shown in full lines in Figure 2, and also when the brush is lowered to contact the iioor as indicated in dotted lines and as already alluded to.

To assist the action of gravity in holding the wax in Contact with the brush, I provide a resilient plate 6l which is carried by a pair ci conical coil springs t2, one at each end ofthe plate,

4the smaller upper ends of which are anchored on pins E3 fixed-on the upper Wall 56. of the frame part el and within the compartment 5t. The plate Eil has a shank 55 which extends outwardly Vof and plays vertically in a narrow elongated slot a-cakevof wax is being inserted. When the nut.

'68 is loosened, the plate Si is free to `follow the wax bar or cake 55 downwardly and maintain a pressure on the calze urging it into contact with the rotary brush 4|.

The handle #Zmayhave a reduced lowerpart- The upper end of the bearing stem -ishing roller 22 'lll by which it is tted snugly into the tubular extension 'H arranged centrally of and xed to the upper wall tl of the auxiliary frame part 5T, a screw bolt 'I2 securing the handle therein.

In order to limit swinging movement of the auxiliary frame l l to a point where it will not rub against the rear axle 29 but will still be free to engage the floor, the auxiliary frame carries a lug 'i3 projecting from one of its sides, as here shown in the upper part of Figure l, to engage the upper wall 3i of the lmain frame ill and act as a stop member.

By providing two of the adjustment nuts 29, one at each side of the main frame, and also two adjustmen'tl nuts 48, one at each side of the auxiliary frame, an inclination transversely of the lframe may be given to either or both of the poland applicator brush di, to acv `cominodate `further irregularities which there Cil the cake to the floor 24.

may be in the floor being Worked upon.

As est seen in Figure 3, which shows details of theresilientiioating suspension for the axle of the applicator brush (and which is similar to that-forithe polishing roller), the roller bearings may be inserted into the bearing block M, for example, by providing-the axle liwith: a reduced end ifi. After the axle is located.inthebearing block fil and the balls Zlalso located in-their race 15, one-half of which is in the axle 43, the sleeve it, in the inner end-of whichis formed the Yother half of the race 15, is then secured over the reduced end T4 of the axle and-riveted to be rigid therewith as at ll'. In this instance, the gear v13 may be carried rigid with sleeve le.

VBetweenthe nuts the upper wall Ha of the auxiliary frame ll is desirablyarched as at vl ib to'coniorm to the rotary brush l.

In order to enhance thetraction of the wheels i3, "le, i5. and it, they are desirably provided with rubber tires SQ having embossed treads So constructed and arranged theoperator may readily propel the device alongthe floor by-pushing it throughfthe medium of the handle livhile at the same Vtime steering thedevice as desired.

- Either continuously or at optional intervals, the

operator may lower the auxiliary frame yli with respect to the main frame l on itspivot as de scribed, to cause the'brush fllto engage the ioc-r. When the auxiliary frame is thus lowered, the .gears 5-2 and 53 will engage and the brush 4i will be rotated to transfer particles of wax from During-the entire movement of the device, the rpolishing roller 2,2 continues to contact the oor, and to work the wax into the floor surface.

The invention is not intended toibelimited `to vdetails of construction Yshown for illustrative purposes, and Vsuch changes may be made as fall within the scope of the following claims without departing therefrom.

The invention having been described, what is here claimed is:

1. In a floor waxing device of the class,.described, the combination with a mobile vframe,

= of a hollow part of said framehaving acompartment for receivinga cake of solidified wax, a rotary applicator brush axledin theframe communicating with. said compartment, a spring pressed follower plate arranged to press said cake f into engagement with said rotary brush, a door for said compartment, and Ameans ;for holding the plate temporarily in vretracted position.

2. In a oor waxing device of the-class described, the combination with a mobile frame, of

Y a hollow part Aof Vsaid frame ,having acompartment for receiving a cake of solidiiied wax, a rotary applicator member axled in the frame communicating with said compartment, a spring pressed follower plate arranged to press said cake into engagement with said rotary member, and means including a shank on said plate, a slot in said frame receiving said shank outwardly therethrough, and a thumb nut screwed on said shank, ior holding the plate temporarily in retracted position.

3. In a floor waxing device, the combination with a main frame, of pairs of wheels for the fra-me arranged front to rear thereof, an auxiliary frame carried by the main frame and pivoted for up and down movement thereon, between the front and rear wheels, a rotary member axled in the auxiliary frame, a wax supply container carried by the auxiliary frame adjacent said rotary member, a handle rigid with said auxiliary frame for causing up and down movements thereof, means for rotating said rotary member by rotation of one of said wheels and engaged when the auxiliary frame is lowered by said handle but disengaged when the auxiliary frame is raised by said handle, whereby upon propulsion of said device and lowering of the auxiliary frame by the handle the rotary member may be caused to rotate in the opposite direction to the rotation of said wheel to receive wax on its periphery from the container and to transmit said wax to a floor or the like, another rotary member carried by the main frame, and means for rotating the last mentioned rotating member upon rotation of one of said wheels, whereby said last mentioned rotary member may provide a polishing action on the iioor.

4. In a floor waxing device, the combination with a main frame, of pairs of wheels for the frame arranged iront to rear thereof, an auxiliary frame carried by the main frame and pivoted for up and down movement thereon, a rotary brush axled in the auxiliary frame, a wax supply container carried by the auxiliary frame adjacent said brush, a handle rigid with said auxiliary frame for causing up and down movements thereof, and interengaging gears rigid with said rotary brush and one of said wheels respectively and engaged when the auxiliary frame is lowered by said handle but disengaged when the auxiliary frame is raised by said handle, whereby upon propulsion of the device and lowering of the auxiliary frame by the handle the rotary brush may be caused to rotate in the opposite direction to the rotation of said wheel to receive wax on its periphery from the container and to transmit said wax to a oor or the like.

5. In a iloor waxing device, the combination with a frame having front and rear wheels, of an auxiliary frame pivoted on the main frame between the wheels for up and down movement thereon, a rotary floor engaging member journaied in the auxiliary frame, a handle carried by the auxiliary frame rigidly therewith, gears rigid with the rotary member and one of said rear wheels respectively adapted to be brought into mesh when the handle is lowered and arranged to rotate the member, a wax supply container carried by the auxiliary frame adjacent said rotary member, another rotary door engaging member carried by the main frame, and meshing gears rigid with the last mentioned rotary member and one of said front wheels respectively for rotating the said last mentioned rotary member.

6. In a floor waxing device, the combination with a main frame, of pairs of wheels for the frame arranged front to rear thereof, an auxiliary frame pivoted on the main frame for up and down movement on the main frame, a rotary floor treating member axled in the auxiliary frame, a spur gear rigid with a rear wheel, a smaller spur gear rigid with the rotary iioortreating member, said gears being engaged when the auxiliary frame is lowered to cause the oor treating member to rotate with rotation of the rear wheel but out of engagement when the auxiliary frame is raised, another rotary floor treating member adjacent the front wheels, a gear rigid therewith, a gear rigid with a front wheel member' engaging said gear rigid with the last mentioned rotary member, a resilient suspension for said floor treating members on said auxiliary frame and said main frame respectively, a handle carried rigidly by said auxiliary frame, and a wax supply container carried by the auxiliary frame adjacent the first-mentioned rotary member.

7. In a floor waxing device, the combination with a main frame, of pairs of wheels for the frame arranged front to rear thereof, an auxiliary frame pivoted on the front wheel axle for up and down movement on the main frame, a rotary floor treating member axled in the auxiliary frame, a wax supply container carried by the auxiliary frame adjacent said rotary member, a spur gear rigid with a rear Wheel, a smaller spur gear rigid with the rotary floor treating member, said gears being engaged when the auxiliary frame is lowered to cause the floor treating member to rotate with rotation of the rear 'wheel but out of engagement when the auxiliary frame is raised, a resilient oating suspension for said iioor treating member on said auxiliary frame, and a handle carried rigidly by said auxiliary frame.

8. In a floor waxing device, the combination with a main frame, of pairs of wheels for the frame, an auxiliary frame carried by the main frame and pivoted for up and down movement thereon, a rotary oor treating member axled in the auxiliary frame, a wax supply container carried by the auxiliary frame adjacent said rotary member for holding a supply of wax in Contact with said rotary member, a handle carried by said auxiliary frame for causing up and down movements thereof, and relatively rotatable means rigid with said rotary member and one of said wheels respectively and engaged when the auxiliary frame is lowered by said handle but disengaged when the auxiliary frame is raised by said handle, whereby upon propulsion of the device and lowering or" the auxiliary frame by the handle the rotary member may be caused to rotate in the opposite direction to the rotation of said wheel to receive wax on its periphery from the container and to transmit said wax to a floor or the like.

9. In a door waxing device, the combination with a main frame, of pairs ci wheels for the frame arranged iront to rear thereof, an auxiliary frame pivoted on the iront wheel axle for up and down movement relative to the main frame, a rotary floor treating member axled in the auxiliary frame, a wax supply container carried by the auxiiiary frame adjacent the rotary member in wax delivery relation thereto. a gear rigid with a rear wheel, a smaller gear rigid with the rotary member, said gears being engaged when the auxiliary frame is lowered to cause the member to rotate with rotation oi the rear wheel, whereby on rotation of the member to transfer portions of said material to the rotary '7 member and from `the rotary member to the .Number oor. 1,176,990 JAMES GORDON. v1,250,131

1,417,768 REFERENCES CITED 1,554,622 The following references `are `of record in the 1-54687 ile of this patent: 1'9'35703 1,997,913 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 47,917 Bates May 30, 1865 Numbel' 436,639 Boggs 1- sept.16,1890 189356 520,080 Roberts May 22, 1894 7011264 901,978 Many Oct. v27, 1908 Name Date Scherf Maxx 28, 1916 Blakeslee Deo. 18,1917 Radmak May '30, '1922 Chancellor Sept. 22 1925 VAult May 11, 1926 Whttenberg Apr. 17,1934 Plon Apr. 16, '1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country 'Date Germany May 13, l1906 France Jan. 7,1931 

